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Is Joe Biden the Democrats' Best Chance to Beat Trump in 2020?

If liberals, independents and former Republicans agree on any one thing — and there are very few things about which anyone can seemingly agree these days — it is that finding a Democratic nominee who can beat Donald Trump in 2020 is of paramount importance.

And, if we learned anything from 2016, that nominee will need to transcend party politics and appeal to moderate voters, swing voters and independent voters (like me) who no longer have a political affiliation after that dumpster fire of an election.

That is why Joe Biden is arguably the party's best hope for 2020. As the most established, qualified, experienced, likable, popular and bipartisan Democrat exploring a bid for the presidency, his ability to relate to blue-collar Americans and his jovial demeanor make him the ideal candidate to go toe-to-toe with Donald Trump.

The eventual Democratic nominee would also have to appeal to young voters, who have been the most disaffected by Trump’s presidency — and Biden polls best among voters under the age of 35 with a 60 percent favorability. It also doesn’t hurt that upon Biden’s return to the social platform Instagram late last summer, he drew over one million followers — and we all know social media is key to reaching young people in today’s campaign atmosphere.

As much as I'm drawn to the Betos and Abrams of the world, I can't help but agree with a lot of this — most of which is backed by strong polling data. My biggest concern with Biden is clearly age (he'd be 78 entering a would-be Presidency), but that could be an issue remedied by running him alongside a more youthful VP candidate. A Biden/Harris ticket, for example, would probably be a strong contender.

Dave, I know you're a bit in the Biden camp this year. I'm curious what everyone else's thoughts are on this?

"Everyone says you should be a good loser. If you’re a good loser, you’re a loser." - John Tortorella

"Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence." - Christopher Hitchens

You're going to need to add more than that if you don't want these types of posts removed, Josh.

He seems to represent the old regime. That’s the same group that lost voters to Trump. Biden doesn’t bring anything new that will get people to turn out like they did for Barry, or to flip. I’m not saying you need an extremist, but need something that inspires new “hope” and “change”. Biden won’t get the millennial votes or the minority vote in mass numbers that they’ll need to take the election. Those championing Biden here are wealthier white Americans with stable families.

I share Josh's cautions. I think the VP pairing is key to filling in the holes, whether it be Corey Booker, Harris, or even Beto. My biggest fear, though, stems from the fact that even in youth at the height of his intellectual powers, Biden was prone to say ill-considered and nonsensical things. I don't know where his clarity is at right now, but I fear that there may just be too many opportunities to make him look doddering and not quite all there . At the moment, I lean toward a strong younger person like Amy Klobuchar (former prosecutor) who is tough enough to handle Trump on a debate stage and is less likely to devolve into a geezer fistfight. But we don't even know who is in, yet. All we know is that it may take several double-decker buses to get the Democratic field to the debate site.

I initially laughed when I saw that South Bend Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg was running but the more I look into him, the better he seems to be. I'm not throwing my support he was yet and we don't really know that much about him yet, but he'd be the first openly gay president, a veteran and a democrat that can help take the midwest. Might be too early for him though. Maybe he's announcing he's running so that he can be seen as more viable in future elections though. who knows?

The Democrats will win on Demographics alone, policy/message won't/don't matter. They promise more free stuff and the people your country imports want free stuff.

If it doesn't happen in 2020 it will happen in 2024 and it will remain that way for imperpituity.

In a multicultural society, democracy is just a racial headcount. Don't believe me, just go look at the #'s.

Crazily simplistic. Woefully inaccurate. I like it!

Thank God gender, rural-urban, education, age, religion, and about 10 other key splits don't figure into it. About 37% of whites are Dems, myself included. Almost 30% of Hispanic Catholics are or lean GOP. How do we fit into your master theory?

I kept hoping that he was going to throw his name in the ring last time around. I think he's a fucking rock star but I think the right so strongly opposes Obama that Biden might actually have the adverse effect and push people toward Trump who may have drifted away. That's not based on any polls or anything, but just a feeling. It seems to me that the best solution is a completely new field.

My real concern is Bernie Sanders. There's a possibility his campaign divides the left more and galvanizes it. I had a real issue with his supporters last time around, many who I know, who were short sighted enough to try to tank her campaign with negative propaganda after Bernie was out of the race.

He's not going to get the nod, that's what I mean. But he's going to have a vocal minority of the left that make shit difficult for everyone else when this campaign should just be everyone on the same team.

You just spelled it out. 60% doesn't constitute a "racial headcount." Nor does it account for a 52-36% gender split across race, a 51-35% split of millennials across race, or for why 40% of Americans now label themselves as Independents (all 2015, so subject to change in my direction.) You're just spitballin' on a lazy Saturday. I'll stick with simplistic and inaccurate.